Cup. I'll try this is the samne shaft with which I wounded Argurion.

Mer. I, but let me save you a labour, Cupid: there were certain bottles of water fetch'd, and drunk off (since that time) by these gallants.

Cup Jove strike me into earth: the fountain of self-love.

Mer. Nay, faint not, Cupid.

Cup. I remember'd it not.

Mer. Faith, it was ominous to take the name of Anteros upon you; you know not what charm or inchantinent lies in the word: you saw, I durst not venture upon any device in our presentment, but was content to be no other than a simple page. Your arrows' properties (to keep decorum) Cupid, are suited (it should seem) to the nature of him you personate.

Cup. Indignity not to be borne.

Mer. Nay, rather, an attempt to have been forborne.

Cup. How might I revenge myself on this insulting Mercury? there's Crites, his minion, he has not tasted of this water. It shall be so. Is Crites turn'd dotard on himself too? [The second strain.

Mer. That follows not, because the veHom of your shafts cannot pierce him, Cupid.

Cup. As though there were one antidote for these, and another for him.

Mer. As though there were not; or as if one effect might not arise of divers causes ? What say you to Cynthia, Arete, Phronesis, Time, and others there?

Cup. They are divine.

Mer. And Crites aspires to be so. Cup. But that shall not serve him. Mer. 'Tis like to do it, at this time. But Cupid is grown too covetous, that will not spare one of a multitude.

Cup. One is more than a multitude.

[The third strain.

Mer. Arete's favour makes any one shotproof against thee, Cupid. I pray thee, light honey-bee, remember thou art not now in Adonis' garden, but in Cynthia's presence, where thorns lie in garrison about the roses. Soft, Cynthia speaks.

For you are they, that not (as some have done)

Do censure us, as too severe and sour,
But as (more rightly) gracious to the good;
Although we not deny, unto the proud,
Or the profane, perhaps indeed austere:
For so Actæon, by presuming far,

Did (to our grief) incur a fatal doom;
And so, swoln Niobe (comparing more
Than he presum'd) was trophæed into stone.
But are we therefore judged too extreme?
Seems it no crime, to enter sacred bowers,
And hallowed places, with impure aspect,
Most lewdly to pollute? Seems it no crime
To brave a deity? Let mortals learn
To make religion of offending heaven,
And not at all to censure powers divine.
To men this argument should stand for
firm,

A goddess did it, therefore it was good:
We are not cruel, nor delight in blood.
But what have serious repetitions
To do with revels, and the sports of court?
We not intend to sour your late delights
With harsh expostulation. Let's suffice
That we take notice, and can take revenge
Of these calumnious and lewd blasphemies.
For we are no less Cynthia than we were,
Nor is our power, but as ourself, the same:
Though we have now put on no tire of
shine,

12

But mortal eyes undazzled may endure. Years are beneath the spheres, and time makes weak [govern heaven. Things under heaven, not powers which And though ourself be in ourself secure, Yet let not mortals challenge to themselves Immunity from thence. Lo, this is all: "Honour hath store of spleen, but wanteth gall." [thank's Once more, we cast the slumber of our On your ta'en toil, which here let take an

end.

And that we not mistake your several worths, Nor you our favour, from yourselves remove What makes you not yourselves, those clouds of mask :

Particular pains particular thanks do ask.
[They unmask.
How let me view you. Ha! are we con-
temn❜d?

Is there so little awe of our disdain,
That any (under trust of their disguise)
Should mix themselves with others of the
court,

And (without forehead) boldly press so far,
As farther none? How apt is lenity
To be abus'd? severity to be loth'd?
And yet, how much more doth the seeming
[names,

face

Of neighbour virtues, and their borrowed Add of lewd boldness to loose vanities? Who would have thought that Philautia durst

Or have usurped noble Storge's name, Or with that theft have ventur'd on our eyes? [should hope Who would have thought, that all of them So much of our connivence, as to come" To grace themselves with titles not their

own?

Instead of med'cines, have we maladies? And such imposthumes as Phantaste is, Grow in our palace? We must lance these

sores,

mask'd,

Or all will putrify. Nor are these all,
For we suspect a farther fraud than this:
Take off our veil, that shadows may depart,
And shapes appear: beloved Arete!-So,
Another face of things presents itself,
Than did of late. What! feather'd Cupid
[strange!
And mask'd like Anteros? And stay! more
Dear Mercury, our brother, like a page,
To countenance the ambush of the boy!
Nor endeth our discovery as yet:
Gelaia, like a nymph, that but erewhile
(In male attire) did serve Anaides?
Cupid came hither to find sport and game,
Who heretofore hath been too conversant
Among our train, but never felt revenge ;
And Mercury bare Cupid company.
Cupid, we must confess, this time of mirth
(Proclaim'd by us) gave opportunity
To thy attempts, although no privilege:
Tempt us no farther; we cannot endure
Thy presence longer; vanish hence, away.
You, Mercury, we must entreat to stay,
And hear what we determine of the rest;
For in this plot we well perceive your hand.
But (for we mean not a censorian task,
And yet to lance these ulcers grown so ripe)
Dear Arete, and Crites, to you two
We give the charge; impose what pains you
please:

Th' incurable cut off, the rest reform,
Remembering ever what we first decreed,
Since revels were proclaim'd, let now none
[times,

bleed.

Are. How well Diana can distinguish And sort her censures, keeping to herself The doom of gods, leaving the rest to us? Come, cite them, Crites, first, and then proceed.

Cri. First Philautia, (for she was the first); Then light Gelaia in Aglaia's name; Thirdly, Phantaste, and Moria next; Main Follies all, and of the female crew: Amorphus, or Eucosmos' counterfeit, Voluptuous Hedon ta'en for Eupathes, Brazen Anaides, and Asotus last, With his two pages, Morus and Prosaites; And thou, the traveller's evil, Cos, approach,

Impostors all, and male deformities

Are. Nay, forward, for I delegate my power,

And will that at thy mercy they do stand, Whom they so oft, so plainly scorn'd before. 'Tis virtue which they want, and wanting it, Honour no garment to their backs can fit. Then, Crites, practise thy discretion.

Cri. Adored Cynthia, and bright Arete, Another might seem fitter for this task, Than Crites far, but that you judge not so: For I (not to appear vindicative,

Ormindful of contempts, which I contemn'd,
As done of impotence) must be remiss;
Who, as I was the author in some sort,
To work their knowledge into Cynthia's
sight,

So should be much severer to revenge
Th' indignity hence issuing to her name:
But there's not one of these who are un-
pain'd,

Or by themselves unpunish'd; for vice
Is like a fury to the vicious mind,
And turns delight itself to punishment.
But we must forward, to design their doom.
You are offenders, that must be confest ;
Do you confess it?

Áll. We do.

Cri. And that you merit sharp correction? All. Yes. [grace, Cri. Then we (reserving unto Delia's Her farther pleasure, and to Arete What Delia granteth) thus do sentence you; That from this place (for penance known of all,

Since you have drunk so deeply of self-love) You (two and two) singing a Palinode, March to your several homes by Niobe's stone,

And offer up two tears a-piece thereon, That it may change the name, as you must change,

come

And of a stone be called Weeping-cross,
Because it standeth 'cross of Cynthia's way,
One of whose names is sacred Trivia.
And, after penance thus perform'd, you pass
In like set order, not as Midas did,
To wash his gold off into Tagus' stream;
But to the well of knowledge, Helicon;
Where purged of your present maladies,
(Which are not few, nor slender) you be-
[return,
Such as you fain would seem, and then
Offering your service to great Cynthia.
This is your sentence, if the goddess please
To ratify it with her high consent,
The scope of wise mirth unto fruit is bent.
Cyn. We do approve thy censure, be-
lov'd Crites;
Which Mercury thy true propitious friend,
(A deity next Jove belov'd of us)
Will undertake to see exactly done.
And for this service of discovery,
Perform'd by thee, in honour of our name,
We vow to guerdon it with such due grace
As shall become our bounty, and thy place.

Pha. "From perfum'd dogs, monkeys, sparrows, dildoes, and parochitoes,

Chorus. Good Mercury defend us.

Amo. "From wearing bracelets of hair, "shoe-ties, gloves, garters, and rings with "poesies,

Chorus. Good Mercury defend us,

Pha. "From pargetting, painting, slick"ing, glazing, and renewing old rivel'd "faces,

Chorus. Good Mercury defend us

Amo. "From squiring to tilt-yards, play"houses, pageants, and all such publie "places,

Choras. Good Mercury defend us, Pha. "From entertaining one gallant to "gull another, and make fools of either,

Chorus. Good Mercury defend us

Amo. "From belying ladies' favours, no"blemen's countenance, coining counterfeit " employments, vain-glorious taking to "them other men's services, and all self "loving humours,

Chorus. Good Mercury defend us.
SONG.

"Now each one dry his weeping eyes,
"And to the well of knowledge haste;
"Where purged of your maladies,
"You may of sweeter waters taste,
"And, with refined voice, report
"The grace of Cynthia, and her court.”

EPILOGUE.

GENTLES, be't known to you, since I went in,

I am turn'd rhimer, and do thus begin :
The author (jealous how your sense doth
take

His travails') hath enjoined me to make
Some short and ceremonious epilogue;
But if I yet know what, I am a rogue;
He ties me to such laws as quite distract
My thoughts, and would a year of time
exact:

I neither must be faint, remiss, nor sorry
Sour, serious, confident, nor peremptory;
But betwixt these: let's see; to lay the
blame

3

2

Jealous how your sense doth take

2

play.

To lay the blame

IGHT, I salute thee, but with wounded [ness. Wishing thy golden splendour pitchy darkWhat's here! th' arraignment? I; 'this, this is it, [while:

That our sunk eyes have wak'd for all this Here will be subject for my snakes and me. Cling to my neck and wrists, my loving [folds, And cast you round in soft and amorous Till I do bid uncurl; then, break your knots, [stings

worms,

Shoot out yourselves at length, as your forc'd Would hide themselves within his malic'd sides,

To whom I shall apply you. Stay! the shine
Of this assembly here offends my sight;
I'll darken that first, and out-face their
grace.

Wonder not, if I stare: these fifteen weeks (So long as since the plot was but an em

brion)

Have I, with burning lights mix'd vigilant thoughts,

In expectation of this hated play,

To which (at last) I am arriv'd as prologue. Nor would I you should look for other looks,

Gesture, or compliment from me, than what

Th' infected bulk of Envy can afford:
For I am riss here with a covetous hope,
To blast your pleasures and destroy your
sports,

With wrestings, comments, applications,
Spy-like suggestions, privy whisperings,
And thousand such promoting sleights as

these.

:

Mark how I will begin the scene is, ha ! Rome? Rome? and Rome? Crack eyestrings, and your balls

Drop into earth; let me be ever blind.
I a prevented; all my hopes are crost,
Check'd and abated; fie, a freezing sweat
Flows forth at all my pores, my entrails
[vext soul,

burn:

What should I do? Rome? Rome? O my How might I force this to the present state? Are there no players here? no poet apes, That come with basilisk's eyes, whose forked tongues

Are steep'd in venom, as their hearts in gall? Either of these would help me; they could wrest,

Pervert and poison all they hear, or see,
With senseless glosses, and allusions.
Now if you be good devils, fly me not.
You know what dear and ample faculties
I have endow'd you with: I'll lend you

more.

[eat, Here, take my snakes among you, come and And while the squeez'd juice flows in your black jaws,